The state House voted 145-52 on Wednesday to approve the legislation sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, which would, among other things, legally allow crime victims to legally allow crime victims to record the acts perpetrated against them.

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association led the push for the changes, arguing that advances in technology, including text-messaging, email and the advent of disposable cellphones, had tipped the balance in favor of criminals.

Among the changes was language exempting crime victims from what's known as “two-party consent.” That provision requires people to obtain the consent of a person they intend to record.

Floor debate Wednesday pitted supporters, who argued that the bill would increase public safety against opponents who described it as an unnecessary expansion of prosecutorial power.

“The claim that this bill destroys privacy rights is a scare tactic,” Marsico said, reiterating arguments that the revamped law would protect citizens from criminals who are using new technology against them. “This would restore privacy by making people aware when recording equipment is in use. The police should not have to wait until the suspect shoots the hostage to start investigating.”

While he acknowledged the bill sets a higher bar for prosecutors to obtain wiretapping warrants from a judge or magistrate, the legislation “allows everyone to go out and be a prosecutor and gather evidence,” said Rep. Mark Cohen D-Philadelphia.

“And, yes, this will help us bring those committing a crime to be brought to justice [but] this bill represents the serious erosion of privacy,” he added.

The bill also allows for what’s know as “target-specific wiretaps,” which prosecutors say would allow them to track criminal suspects who often use more than one pre-paid mobile phone to throw off law enforcement.

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